A man admitted stabbing a Carson City resident over a parking spot at a Lake Tahoe casino just two days after he was released from prison.
Remengesau "Ray Ray" William Erungel, 24, admitted Tuesday in Douglas County District Court in Minden that he stabbed the 23-year-old man twice during an Oct. 11 confrontation.
Erungel faces a maximum of 20 years in Nevada State Prison and $20,000 in fines after he pleaded guilty to two counts of battery with a deadly weapon.
He would not be eligible for parole until he had served at least eight years, if he were sentenced to the maximum.
His attorney, Derrick Lopez, told District Judge Dave Gamble that Erungel plans on arguing he thought the 23-year-old victim was reaching for a weapon when he stabbed him.
"He believed he was acting in defense of himself and others," Lopez said.
Prosecutor Mike McCormick pointed out to the judge that the victim did not have a weapon.
The confrontation began when the victim pulled into a parking space at Harrah's Casino just before Erungel's party. The driver of the vehicle containing Erungel claimed the victim cut him off and started arguing with him.
During the confrontation, Erungel stabbed the man in the abdomen.
A description of Erungel was released in the press shortly after the incident and an informant to Secret Witness provided information that led to his Oct. 22 arrest in Reno.
Erungel was ordered to appear in district court for sentencing on Jan. 15, 2008. He is being held in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.
